Device for x-ray analysis

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses a device for X-ray analysis having a pulse height analyzer in which the window width of the analyzer is varied in proportion to square root sin theta in order to discriminate pulses attributable to the X-rays satisfying the Bragg equation.

United States Patent 91 lshijima Feb.5,1974

DEVICE FOR X-RAY ANALYSIS Hiroshi lshiiima, Tokyo, Japan Nihon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan Aug. 30, 1972 lnventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl. 250/278, 250/274 Int. Cl. G0ln 23/20 Field of Search 250/49.5 PE, 51.5

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,837,655 6/1958 Lang 250/5L5 3,119,013 1/1964 Wytzes et al. 250/5l.5

' Primary Examiner-William F. Lindquist Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Webb, Burden, Robinson & Webb ABSTRACT This specification discloses a device for X-ray analysis having a pulse height analyzer in which the window width of the analyzer is varied in proportion to V smO in order to discriminate pulses attributable to the X- rays satisfying the Bragg equation.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures LINEAR AMPLIFIER FIRE-AMPLIFIER UPPER LEVEL DISCRIMINATOR COUNTING CIRCUIT I0 LOWER LEVEL DISCRIMINATOR RECORDER PATENIED FEB 5 I974 SHEU 1 BF 3 iATENTEU FEB 5 I974 SNEU 3 [IF 3 DEVICE FOR X-RAY ANALYSIS This invention relates in general to an apparatus for X-ray analysis, and more particularly, it relates to an apparatus having a pulse height analyzer.

In an apparatus for X-ray analysis, for example, X-ray fluorescent analysis, X-rays radiated from a sample are diffracted by a single crystal according to the wavelength of the respective X-rays and reflected accordingly. Those X-rays reflected from the single crystal at an angle of 20 are detected by an X-ray counter such as a proportional or scintillation counter, the output signal of which is fed into a pulse height analyzer in order to eliminate noise components such as stray X-rays and second and third order reflections.

Prior to being applied to the pulse height analyzer whose base line level and window width are fixed, the

output pulse height of the counter is adjusted so that the pulse height of the X-rays having a wavelength satisfying the Bragg equation remains constant even when the goniometer comprising the single crystal and the counter is rotated. The train of input pulses, upon entering the pulse height analyzer, are simultaneously applied to two discriminators (upper and lower) which pass the pulses according to their respective heights. To be more specific, pulses whose height extends beyond the upper level of the window width pass through the upper discriminator and pulses whose height extends beyond the base line of the window pass through the lower discriminator. The discriminator outputs are then applied to an exclusive OR circuit which generates a pulse at the instant a pulse from the lower discriminator enters said circuit. The pulses generated from the exclusive OR circuit are counted by a counter and recorded by a recorder.

The output pulses of X-rays having a given wavelength exhibit Gaussian distribution, the pulse height of the mean pulse of the distribution corresponding to said given wavelength. On FIG. 1, the shape of the pulse height distribution for three wavelengths corresponding to gold Ka spectral lines (AgKa), the copper Ka spectral lines (CuKa) and the titanium K01 spectral lines (TiKa) are super-imposed with adjusted mean pulse heights. Further, since it is a known fact that the energy resolution (half width value/mean pulse height) is ,varied by the energy difference of the X-rays, it is necessary to vary the base line level and the window width of the pulse height analyzer according to the wavelength of the X-rays satisfying the Bragg equation in order to be able to count only the pulses attributable to the X-rays satisfying the said equation. However, in the existing apparatus, since the baseline level and window width are fixed, it is incapable of adequately discriminating between the wavelength of the X-rays. For example, if the window width is designed to pass X-rays having a long wavelength (low energy X-rays), said width will be too wide to prevent X-rays having a short wavelength (high energy Xrays) from passing through the pulse height analyzer minus their noise components. Again, if the window width is designed to pass X-rays having a short wavelength, said width will be too narrow to pass all the pulses attributable to the X-rays having a long wavelength, a portion of the pulses being intercepted by the pulse height analyzer. As a result, the SN ratio of the existing apparatus for X-ray analysis is low even when a pulse height analyzer is used.

Considering X-rays having a given wavelength, the pulse height distribution curves of the pulses converted by a counter exhibit Gaussian distribution as shown in FIG. l and the energy resolution R of these pulse height distribution curves is expressed as follows;

R=B/A where A is the voltage corresponding to the mean pulse height and B is the half width value. Further,

(2) where E is the energy of the X-ray, X is the wavelength, v is the frequency, 7ris the Plank constant and k is a constant. By substituting the Bragg equation A 2d sin0, equation (2) can be rewritten as follows;

R=k 2asin0kc=KVsin0 where d is the lattice spacing of the crystal monochromator, 0 is the angle at which the X-ray radiation is reflected from the lattice plane and K is a constant. Accordingly, by expressing equation l) in terms of B and substituting K V sin0 for R (equation(3)), B can be expressed as follows;

B KA V sin0 It will thus be appreciated from the above expression that the half width value B varies in proportion to wine.

Briefly, according to one embodiment of this invention, the base line level in the pulse height analyzer is varied in proportion to A minus KA V sin0 and the window width is varied in proportion to 2KA V sin0, providing a pulse height analyzer capable of passing only the pulses attributable to the X-rays satisfying the Bragg equation.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for X-ray analysis having a high SN (signal to noise) ratio.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for X-ray analysis utilizing a pulse height analyzer in which the window width and the base line level are varied with the rotation of the goniometer.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 shows pulse height distribution curves of output pulses of an X-ray counter.

FIG. 2 shows an apparatus for X-ray fluorscent analysis according to this invention.

FIG. 3 shows circuits of the two discriminators used in the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the goniometer rotation angle and the base line level and window width. Referring now to FIG. 2, X-rays generated by an X-ray generating tube 1 irradiate a sample 2 so as to radiate fluorescent X-rays from said sample. A portion of the fluorescent X-rays thus radiated enter a goniometer 3 comprising a rotatable crystal monochromator 4 and a rotatable X-ray counter 5 such as a porportional or scintillation counter. The monochromator 4 and the counter 5 are rotated about an axis 6 by a motor 7, the

rotational speed of the counter being twice that of the monochromator. The fluorescent X-rays are diffracted by the monochromator and those X-rays having a wavelength satisfying the Bragg equation enter the counter. In this way, X-rays with different wavelengths enter the counter in sequence in accordance with the rotation of the goniometer.

The X-rays which enter the counter 5 are converted into electrical pulses, the height of the pulses being proportional to the wave-length of the X-rays. The pulse signals are amplified by a preamplifier 8 prior to entering a linear amplifier 9 whose gain is varied by a reference signal from the motor 7 in proportion to cosecant 0 so as to make the mean pulse height of the pulses attributable to the X-rays satisfying the Bragg equation constant. A potentiometer that would enable such a reference signal is set forth in my copending application Ser. No. 285,058 filed of even date herewith entitled Apparatus for X-ray Analysis." The output pulses from the linear amplifier 9 are then applied to a pulse height analyzer comprising a first (lower) discriminator 10, a second (upper) discriminator l1 and an exclusive OR circuit 12. Pulses whose height extends beyond the base line (lower limit voltage) pass through the first discriminator l0 and pulses whose height extends beyond the upper level of the window width (upper limit voltage) pass through the second discriminator 11. The output pulses of the two discriminators then enter the exclusive OR circuit 12 simultaneously. This circuit generates a pulse at the instant a pulse from the first discriminator only enters it. The pulses, thus generated, are then counted by a counting circuit 13 and recorded by a recorder 14.

In the above arrangement, the output voltage of a potentiometer 15 which is varied by the rotation of the goniometer 3 and is proportional to V sin0 is applied to the first and second discriminators. A potentiometer that would enable such an output voltage signal is disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 285,058 filed of even date herewith entitled Apparatus for X-ray Analysis. In addition, each discriminator produces a reference voltage, the difference between the potentiometer output voltage and the respective reference voltages being the discriminating voltage.

Referring now to the discriminator circuits shown in FIG. 3. The first discriminator 10 which determines the base line level comprises two transistors 21 and 22, a diode 23 and a reference voltage source 20. The reference voltage generated by the source and half the voltage generated by the potentiometer 15 determine the potential difference across the diode 23. The discriminating voltage (base line) of the first discriminator is determined by the voltage difference between the threshold voltage of the diode 23 and the potential difference across the diode 23. The train of pulses entering the first discriminator through an input terminal 24 connected to the linear amplifier 9 are discriminated by the diode 23. That is to say, pulses whose height extends beyond the base line pass through the diode 23 and are applied to an output terminal 25 connected to the exclusive OR circuit 12 and to the second discriminator 11. The second discriminator 11 comprises two transistors 27 and 28, a diode 26 and a reference voltsecond discriminator 11 from the first discriminator 10 are discriminated by the diode 26. That is to say, pulses whose height extends beyond the upper limit of the window width pass through the diode 26 and are applied to the exclusive OR circuit 12 via an output terminal 30. The exclusive OR circuit generates a pulse at the instant a pulse from the output terminal 25 only enters said circuit. In other words, at the instant no pulse from the output terminal 30 enters said circuit.

In the above described circuits, when the voltage generated by the potentiometer 15 is decreased by the rotation of the goniometer 3, since the potential difference across the diode 23 is decreased and the potential difference across the diode 26 is increased, the base line is lowered and the upper limit of the window width is raised, thereby increasing the window width. The relationship between the base line level and window width with respect to the goniometer rotation angle is shown in FIG. 4. Taking the mean pulse height (voltage) as the median voltage, the window width is increased exponentially by rotating the counter arm of the goniometer.

Having thus described the invention with the detail and particularity as required by the Patent Laws what is desired protected by letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for X-ray analysis comprising:

a. a crystal monochromator for diffracting X-rays radiated from a sample,

b. an X-ray counter for converting the diffracted X- rays into pulses whose height corresponds to the wavelengths of the X-rays entering said counter,

c. means for rotating said crystal monochromator and said X-ray counter on a common axis, the rotation speed of said crystal monochromator being one-half the speed of said X-ray counter,

d. means for controlling the pulse height of said pulses produced by said X-ray counter, the mean pulse height of the pulses attributable to the X-rays satisfying the Bragg equation being maintained constant, and

e. a pulse height analyzer for analyzing the controlled pulses, in which the base line and window width are varied such that said window width is in proportion to V sin0, 0 being the incident angle of the X-rays with respect to said crystal monochromator.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the pulse height is attenuated by an amplifier having a gain proportional to cosecant 0.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pulse height analyzer comprises two discriminators and an exclusive OR circuit connected to said discriminators, first discriminator passing pulses whose height extends beyond the base line, the second discriminator passing pulses whose height extends beyond the upper level of the window.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first discriminator passes pulses whose pulse height exceeds A minus KA m and the second discriminator passes pulses whose pulse height exceeds ZKAGE? above the minimum pulse height passed by the first discriminator where A and K are constants and 0 is the incident angle of the X-rays with respect to said crystal monochromator.

5. An apparatus for X-ray analysis comprising:

6 a. a crystal monochromator for diffracting X-rays rasponding to the X-rays satisfying the Bragg equadiated from a sample, tion thereby being maintained substantially conb. an X-ray counter for converting the diffracted X- mm; d

rays into pulses whose height corresponds to the a pulse height analyzer f analyzing the pulses wavelengths of the X-rays entering said counter, 5 0. means for rotating said crystal monochromator and said X-ray counter on a common axis, the rotaggl fgfii i zig i zzg t gg sgfig gi being ceeds A minus KA m and the said second disd. means for controlling the pulse height of said 10 cnmmator pas'smg pulses Pulse helghtFX' pulses produced by said X-ray counter to be proceeds ZKA V 5mg above the mmlmum Pulse height portional to cos cam 0, 0 b i th i id t angle passed by the first discriminator where A and K are of the X-rays with respect to crystal monochromaconstants. tor, the said mean pulse height of the pulses correcomprising two discriminators and an exclusive OR circuit connected to said discriminators, said first discriminator passing pulses whose pulse height ex- UIVITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 790 79g Dated February 5, 1974 Invent floi Hiroshi Ishijima.

, It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

After. the line listing the application serial number insert the following:

/ "Foreign Application Priority'Data,

r. September 10, 1.971 Japan 46-70240".

Signed and sealed this 10th day of September 197 (SEAL) Attest: v

MCCOY M. GIBSON, C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting- Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM PO-IOSO 10-59) v usoMM-DC 60876-P69 i! 0.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. I809 0368-S34, 

1. An apparatus for X-ray analysis comprising: a. a crystal monochromator for diffracting X-rays radiated from a sample, b. an X-ray counter for converting the diffracted X-rays into pulses whose height corresponds to the wavelengths of the Xrays entering said counter, c. means for rotating said crystal monochromator and said X-ray counter on a common axis, the rotation speed of said crystal monochromator being one-half the speed of said X-ray counter, d. means for controlling the pulse height of said pulses produced by said X-ray counter, the mean pulse height of the pulses attributable to the X-rays satisfying the Bragg equation being maintained constant, and e. a pulse height analyzer for analyzing the controlled pulses, in which the base line and window width are varied such that said window width is in proportion to square root sin theta , theta being the incident angle of the X-rays with respect to said crystal monochromator.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the pulse height is attenuated by an amplifier having a gain proportional to cosecant theta .
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pulse height analyzer comprises two discriminators and an exclusive OR circuit connected to said discriminators, first discriminator passing pulses whose height extends beyond the base line, the second discriminator passing pulses whose height extends beyond the upper level of the window.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first discriminator passes pulses whose pulse height exceeds A minus KA Square Root sin theta and the second discriminator passes pulses whose pulse height exceeds 2KA Square Root sin theta above the minimum pulse height passed by the first discriminator where A and K are constants and theta is the incident angle of the X-rays with respect to said crystal monochromator.
 5. An apparatus for X-ray analysis comprising: a. a crystal monochromator for diffracting X-rays radiated from a sample, b. an X-ray counter for converting the diffracted X-rays into pulses whose height corresponds to the wavelengths of the X-rays entering said counter, c. means for rotating said crystal monochromator and said X-ray counter on a common axis, the rotation speed of said crystal monochromator being one-half the speed of said X-ray counter, d. means for controlling the pulse height of said pulses produced by said X-ray counter to be proportional to cosecant theta , theta being the incident angle of the X-rays with respect to crystal monochromator, the said mean pulse height of the pulses corresponding to the X-rays satisfying the Bragg equation thereby being maintained substantially constant; and e. a pulse height analyzer for analyzing the pulses comprising two discriminators and an exclusive OR circuit connected to said discriminators, said first discriminator passing pulses whose pulse height exceeds A minus KA Square Root sin theta and the said second discriminator passing pulses whose pulse height exceeds 2KA Square Root sin theta above the minimum pulse height passed by the first discriminator where A and K are constants. 